A white Dodge Ram pickup ran a red light at the Elizabeth intersection of Catherine and East Jersey streets, slamming into a Geo Prism being driven by a city woman, critically injuring her, police said. Google Maps

ELIZABETH — A hit-and-run accident late Thursday night sent a city woman to the hospital in critical condition, police said.

The accident, at the intersection of East Jersey and Catherine streets, happened when a red Geo Prism being driven south on Catherine by the woman was broadsided by a speeding white Dodge pickup with out-of-state plates travelling westbound on East Jersey, said Lt. Dan Saulnier.

Officers called to the intersection at shortly after 10:40 p.m. found the Prism with heavy damage lodged between a light pole and a tree and the woman breathing but responsive, he said.

Fire rescue crews worked to free her from the mangled Prism and she was taken to University Hospital in Newark, he said. There was no word on her condition this morning.
A single witness to the accident at the scene told the officers the pickup had sped through a red light, Saulnier said.

The pickup, a Dodge Ram, with front-end damage consistent with a recent accident, was found parked early this morning near First and Franklin streets, about two miles away, and was impounded, Saulnier said.

Police are asking any additional witnesses to the accident or its aftermath to call Detective Richard Hernandez at (908) 558-2066.